Those killed were
mostly does with young, or old men. Any horse of good speed could
round up a heavy old man, and then he made for the nearest gum tree,
and stood at bay with his back to it. It was dangerous for man or
dog to attack him in front, for with his long hind claws he could cut
like a knife.
Philip's family began to desert him. Bruin, as already stated,
sneaked away and was killed by Hugh Boyle. Joey opened his
cage-door, and flew up a gum tree. When Philip came home from the
school, and saw the empty cage, he called aloud, "Joey, Joey, sweet
pretty Joey," and whistled. The bird descended as far as the
lightwood, but would not be coaxed to come any nearer. He actually
mocked his master, and said, "Ha, ha, ha! who are you? Who are you?
There is na luck aboot the hoose," which soon proved true, for the
next bird Pussy brought into the house was Joey himself.
Pup led a miserable life, and died early. The coroner suspected that
he had been murdered by Maggie, but there was no absolute proof.
Maggie had really no conscience. She began to gad about the bush.
In her girlish days she wore short frocks, as it were, having had her
wings clipped, but the next spring she went into society, was a
debutante, wore a dress of black and white satin which shone in the
sun, and she grew so vain and flighty, and strutted about so, that it
was really ridiculous to watch her.
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